If someone outside my MLS calls to see one of our listings there are a few things I do before I hand over a key or a code:

Ask for their license number and look them up in GREC

Google them to find web presence and photo (you know one that matches the person)

Call their office to verify their cell number

Asking to see their drivers license

In doing so I have only found just one time that the person who was calling to "show" the home actually had an expired license. When I challenged his license status he informed me that his father was the broker and would be writing the contract. I informed him that is father would have to come and pick up the key. Eventually that happened and expired license man purchased that home. One other time I had an agent send a buyer to pick up the key after making arrangements via phone to pick it up herself. And sadly my listing didn't get shown that day. And the "buyer's agent" never called me back after I left her a message that I was not about to turn over the key to her buyer. The buyer actually walked in with the business card of the agent and said she was the agent. As I had seen the agent's photo on line I knew this was NOT the agent. She "couldn't recall" the license number and refused to show me her photo ID. So now showing that day.

I will go well out of my way to make sure an agent licensed in the state of Georgia can show any of my listings. But I will not allow buyers access to the home without an agent. Not even a vacant home. We make copies of keys to our listings so agents outside of our MLS can show the listing, but we do verify.

I am sure that some well seasoned criminals could get past all my fail safes by having a fake website, with a fake brokerage phone number on it if they were using the license number of someone with no website at a firm with no website... if that still exists. But I truly try to be diligent in protecting my sellers property. We don't want to miss real opportunities for our seller's homes to be shown. But we certainly don't want to be responsible to handing over a key to a criminal.

Comments

Thanks Bridget. It all started when I used to give codes over the phone and I asked an agent for their license number a few years ago. She said she'd have to "call me back". Ummm, sorry, but I don't know any agents who don't know their number.

I've recently had calls from agents who are "in the process of activating their license" who want to come to my office and get a key to a vacant property....not so fast! Have your rental prospects call me and I'll show them the listing....HUH?